“Tony Womack tonight is making his first start since July 5. He’s starting in center field and batting ninth.
Womack has had just two at-bats since his last start. Maybe the Yankees are hoping to showcase him for a late trade. Then again, he probably has more value when he isn’t playing.”

Gillette speculates this is the key to Mo’s ’05 dominance = now even patient hitters (like the Sox) can’t just sit and wait for a cutter in the zone. It was an interesting read.

BTW, I’ve found Gillette to be a pretty good writer/reporter, though I only happen to get Insider access due to my ESPNtheMag subscription. I wouldn’t shell out $40/year for it.

]]>By: JVarghese81http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51121
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 16:54:25 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5112129. Hey, does anyone here pay for ESPN Insider – http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/index – there’s an article behind the velvet rope dealing with Mariano and “a very important change in his approach on the mound”.

Seeing as how Mo is striking guys out at a much higher rate than in previous years, I was wondering what this could be – I’m inclined to think that it was Mo going back to the things he did earlier in his career before Mel asked him to make a few tweaks. Still, I’d just like to know if it’s just a fluff piece or if there’s really something in the article as to what Mo has changed.

]]>By: jedihttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51120
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 16:09:30 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5112028. And can you believe he had bursitis in his shoulder all last year of his runner-up mvp season. He couldnt even lift up his glove above his shoulder to catch a fly ball. Insane!
]]>By: Schteevehttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51119
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 16:07:39 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111927. Yeah, when it comes to hitting a baseball, Sheff has me convinced that he knows exactly what he’s doing.
]]>By: rilkefanhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51118
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 16:07:06 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111826. Cause he might be at a nice local maximum but not at an achievable superhuman global maximum in the swing landscape?
]]>By: alaskyhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51117
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 15:56:12 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111725. just because he swings so violently doesn’t mean it’s not controlled. his relatively low k rate and terrific obp underscore this fact. I’d say that his ability to swing that hard and stay controlled is his his strength. Really though, why would anyone question his approach of all people’s when the results are so consistently great?
]]>By: rilkefanhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51116
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 15:49:00 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111624. When I see Sheffield swing I wonder if he wouldn’t be served better by a more controlled stroke. He’s trying to hit the ball 4500 ft instead of 450.
]]>By: Jon Weismanhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51115
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 15:13:42 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111523. Sheffield’s swing is so whippet-fast – it’s fascinating to watch.

Chacon can be very wild, but at times wildly effective. He’s never been all that impressive against good hitting teams, I don’t think.

I loved the ending to LaPointe’s story. He may be good enough to write for Bronx Banter!

]]>By: Shaun Phttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51114
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 14:05:25 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111422. jedi, I don’t think that Cameron and Sheffield are anywhere near each other in value. Neither are Sori and A-Rod.

But I could see the Mets valuing Cameron and Sori equally. Both have power and speed (and lots of Ks), neither has a great AVG, both can play positions (CF, 2B) where offense is usually at a premium.

That said, the Mets would be stupid to trade Cameron (not to say anything besides just Cameron) to get Sori. Cameron is a superior fielder. Cameron may strikeout, but the man knows how to walk. Sori doesn’t. Worst of all, with his declining speed (hamstring problems), Sori’s offensive contribution is really in his AVG and his power. But Shea suppress AVG and power (esp for righties) a ton.

Putting Sori in Shea – and effectively gutting his primary offensive contributions – would be a mistake of colossal proportions. The Mets doing this wouldn’t surprise me at all.

BTW – I don’t mean to sound like I’m knocking Sori because I really like him – we named our pet cockatiel Soriano – but he is what he is, and Shea is what it is.

]]>By: Robhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51113
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 13:59:23 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111321. I’ve seen Chacon pitch a few times here against San Diego and each time I came away unimpressed. Glad to know we didn’t give up too much for him. He does walk a lot, and from what I remember he produces a lot of long drawn out innings.

btw, i really like O’Neill in the booth. He doesn’t share much in the way of analysis, but he does seem like a genuine person.

]]>By: Alex Belthhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51112
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 13:54:37 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111220. Giambi has started to tail off. He missed a bunch of pitches this week (fouled off). Like you said, hopefully he’s not falling into a slump. I don’t know who it was–O’Neill or Justice, but someone noted that his swing was getting too long like he’s trying to hit homers. They said when it was quick and short he was in the groove.
]]>By: jedihttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51111
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 13:38:11 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5111119. This is just a plain baseball opinion, but I don’t know what Lucchino is talking about when he says Manny will be hard to trade. They have a taker in the Mets who Minaya is in deep love with Manny. Plus, the Mets have what the Red Sox need (CF/RF, SP and RP). Minaya would be willing to give up a combination of Cameron, Looper, Heilman and prospects and all of this would fit under salaries . The only reason why I think Manny wants out because he knows the Mets want him and would want to finish out his career in his hometown of NY. He got his ring, he doesnt need another in his selfish mind, why not be a Larry Brown and have a homecoming. He knows he is not going to be traded by the deadline with the big salary involved but he wanted to be Manny and sent a message to upper management to keep him in mind in the offseason. Bad timing, but to him its perfect. He is kinda smart if you think about it. Selfish but smart.

Just look for this as a foreshadowing of the offseason where the Red Sox will be definitely shopping him around.

Lucchino is just doing damage control in a season that was almost perfect until Manny opened up his big mouth. Sort of reminds me of Wells in 2003.

In other news, I just read from cbssportslin.com that “Rumors are rampant in newspapers from New York to Dallas about a trade that would send Texas 2B Alfonso Soriano to New York. The Mets apparently very interested, but are finding the Rangers asking price, which includes OF Mike Cameron, too high. “

Am I the only one that is lost here. Why does everyone have Cameron at such a high regard. The Mets compared the quality of Cameron to Sheffield, now Soriano? Man, Soriano got traded for AROD! Did we not forget that?

I hear you about Manny, but remember too that the gargantuan salaries are because MLB players transcend being just athletes. They make that money because of their ability to entertain millions of people at a time. And Manny is entertaining. Even if he pisses you off, you watch to see what he’s gonna do next. It’s the Howard Stern syndrome.

You make an excellent point in that, if A-Rod or Sheff or Jeter pulled any of that crap that Manny pulls they’d be decried as everything that’s wrong with baseball. Manny somehow gets “loveable goof” status. The reality is probably somewhere in between.

(And I did think that Manny disappearing into the Green Monster was hilarious.)

One other point, I can’t imagine why Manny wants out of Boston. What’s his beef?

]]>By: bp1http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51109
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:12:58 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5110917. The thing I remember about Winfield is he seemed to lose balance after some of those windmill swings. He’d almost fall into the lefty batter’s box. I don’t see that with Sheff too much. Just a lightning fast “swoosh” and then he’s back ready for more.

Winfield was the only guy I remember hitting home runs that never seemed to get more than 20 feet off the air, and they left the park in warp speed. Sheff is definitely in that same league.

Man, I just imagine being an opposing pitcher and having to face this Yankee lineup. With Giambi hitting the ball again (hope that’s not starting to trail off …), there’s four guys in a row who can just murder you. Even if you get three of them out in one inning, there’s one waiting for you next time out. Everyone talks about Manny/Ortiz, but I’ll take Sheff/Arod/Matsui anyday. Three of a kind always beats a pair.

BP

]]>By: BFenwickhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51108
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:09:17 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5110816. If Sheffield is Tiger Woods, with the attacking, yet controlled swing, A-Rod is Ernie Els: smooth swing with great tempo that looks to produce somewhat ordinary results. That is, until you watch the ball fly 320 yds or 450 ft as the case may be.
]]>By: Alex Belthhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51107
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:02:16 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5110715. That’s a great point. It was something I was actually thinking about–the differences in Sheffield and Winfield’s swings. Winfield was just a force of nature. 6’6, all arms coming through like a windmill. His swing was long and huge. Sheffield’s is quick and compact. Completely different styles, similar results.
]]>By: bp1http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51106
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 11:50:32 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5110614. Beth,

I can believe it. Winfield always swung out of his shoes, too.

What gets me, though, is that he swings so hard, you’d think he would be hitting the moon shot homers. But no – that’s A-Rod. A-Rod looks like he hits a lazy fly ball to center field, and it lands about 10 minutes later some 450 feet away. How does he do that?!? I swear – at least 5 times this year he has hit a shot to center or right where I think “crap – fly ball” and it’s GONE. Geez. Deceptive.

The only time this year where I noticed he looked like he swung hard (and made contact) was the shot off Wakefield where he hit it over the wall. They had a great camera shot of his swing for that one. Blazing fast.

Remember some folks saying early this year that A-Rod’s bat had slowed down ’cause of all his off-season weight training. I remember someone in the booth saying “those extra 15 pounds of muscle can actually slow a guy’s swing down quite a bit”.

Uh – yeah. It shows. (smirk)

BP

]]>By: Bethhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-51105
Fri, 29 Jul 2005 11:34:22 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2005/07/29/a-small-good-thing-3/#comment-5110513. I believe it was Gary Sheffield about whom Jerry Remy said, “If you were to try to swing that hard, your body would just fall apart.”
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